The best gravel rides in Hjärtsjömåla

Very cool spot, rich in heritage.

An ironworks was established at the rapids of the Bräkneån in the late 1700s. In 1748 the name was changed from Bräken to Stenfors. In the mid-19th century the ironworks and hammer mill were expanded into an industrial complex where furnaces and agricultural tools were formed. The plant ceased operations around 1900.

The current ruins of Stenfors Bruk were once a large ironworks in operation until the end of the 19th century in the Småland forests, around 7 kilometers south of the town of Tingsryd. The remains of the pre-industrial Stenfors Bruk, which consists of a large number of individual ruins, are located in the northern part of the Stenfors nature reserve and extend along a 5-kilometer-long circular path. The path, marked with red markings, begins near the former manor house of the steelworks patron and leads through the forest as a cultural trail. Along the way, you will come across a good 15 stations where the previous functions of the respective building fragments are explained using information boards. Some of the ruins are located near the Bräkneån river, which is fed by the large lake Tiken and whose hydropower was previously needed to operate the old facilities. At the small waterfall of the river there used to be a large hammer forge, in the remains of which you can still see the bearing points of the water wheels and hammers. Not far from there you can find the remains of the former coal and ore bunkers, near which the blast furnace also stood. When the smelting works was founded in 1697, it initially started operations with a blast furnace. The energy required to operate the blowers was provided by the small river, and charcoal produced by numerous forest farmers in the area was used to generate the heat for melting. The iron ore was extracted in the form of ore nodules from the bottom of local lakes in winter, as was common in Småland at the time. Residential and commercial buildings, including a shop and a brewery, as well as other factory facilities such as hammer and nail forges and a sawmill, were gradually added. Over time, the ironworks grew into a typical bruk - one of those typically Swedish, largely self-sufficient combinations of pre-industrial factory and residential area. Over the course of its history, Stenfors Bruk had a number of owners who resided in the manor house and managed the business more or less successfully. The process of iron extraction using charcoal and sea ore became increasingly unprofitable at the beginning of industrialization and led to the abandonment of the old facility towards the end of the 19th century. https://www.guidebook-sweden.com/de/reisefuehrer/reiseziel/stenfors-bruk-historische-eisenhuettenruine-tingsryd

Here you will find classic homemade café selection of coffee: buns, cookies and pastries such as chocolate cake and cheesecake. We also serve lunch and delicatessen platters with some of the best Blekinge has to offer. To accompany this, you can choose between drinking good coffee, loose tea or choose from a range of cold drinks. Apple juice from Blekinge perhaps, or why not homemade lemonade? We also have a range of locally produced folk beer.

Very nice natural campsite.

Some big deep potholes - keep an eye on the road

Nice smooth gravel road. Mostly fine gravel and hard pack. Gated off so no traffic.

A nature reserve with old remains of an ironworks. Some of the ruins are located near the river Bräkneån, which is fed by the large lake Tiken and whose water power was formerly needed for the operation of the old facilities. At the small waterfall of the river there used to be a big hammer smithy, in whose wall remnants one can still partially recognize the bearings of the water wheels and the hammers. Nearby you will find the remnants of the former coal and Erzbunker, near which also has the blast furnace.